The Reality: Each year about 1/2 of dogs and cats that enter animal shelters in the U.S. are euthanized. This equates to about 3 million animals.
The Problem: Many of these animals are lost from loving families with no way to reconnect.
The Solution: Microchips.
Today on MSNBC, I read a story about a husky named Bonnie that was stolen in North Dakota on November 1, 2009. The husky, months later, was found wandering the streets.....in Los Angeles! With 1700 miles between them, only identification through a microchip implanted by Bonnie's family would be able to reunite them. This story is definitely one to be remembered.
So if microchipping is so effective in protecting your pets, why doesn't everyone do it? In Europe, about 25% of owners install microchips into their pets...a trend that is becoming more standard. In America, that number drops significantly to 5%. This is 5% of 130 Million dogs and cats...only 6.5 million. Not a very high number.
While there is still work being done to streamline the microchip databases and procedures, without a microchip, your pet may end up 1700 miles away with no way to get home.
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